Facts and Figures

• Starting salary:

  Anything from £25,000 upwards. The average salary for a manager is £50,000-£55,000.

• Senior level salary:

  Up to £100,000. Charitable sector salaries are lower than the equivalent in the public or private sector. A 2006/07 survey also found that regeneration professionals earn more in the North than in the South, when compared to the average regional income.

• Education:

  There are many graduates working in the sector. Humanities subjects like geography and history are popular, as are degrees in built environment areas like town planning and design. There are postgraduate courses in regeneration and on-the-job training is also available. Many authorities expect relevant experience, so mature candidates are common.

• Skills:

  People who are passionate about improving places, keen to learn and good at communicating with all types of people. Regeneration professionals will need negotiation skills, and the ability to manage budgets.

• Likely employer type:

  Local authorities, housing associations, charities and community groups and developers.

• Opportunities:

  A possible reduction in the funding of regeneration projects due to the present economic climate is likely to reduce career opportunities. This would particularly affect professionals working in the public sector. In the voluntary sector, changes to the distribution of lottery funds and a move away from grants towards service delivery contracts could see staff moving to the public and private sectors.